Toronto the Divided or Solving the City's Problem with The Handmaiden's Tale on Four GIGANTIC wheels

You're welcome, Toronto.

As I write this, there is a marathon session in the Toronto Council over spending cuts. I’ve been following the debate on Twitter via @Torontoist who have been great with the coverage.

One of the things that has struck me a lot this week is the way that people are dividing themselves in Toronto – into Ford Nation and Not-Ford Nation. Or as if Toronto has suddenly become a city divided not by NASCAR fans wearing sleeveless shirts and effeminate Margaret Atwood latte sippers.

For any internationals out there, Robert Ford is the Mayor of Toronto. He is essentially a populist leader who was elected on the basis of cutting taxes, improving conditions for drivers (rather than mass transportation) and dramatically cutting spending and programs. He has cultivated an image of being the little-guy ready to go to bat with the slogan “Respect for Tax Payers”.

Bob Ford has not, however, had a great PR week:

• Rob Ford flips off mother and child while illegally speaking on a cellphone while driving
• His partner in crime (and brother), Doug Ford (who is described by some as the power behind the throne) trashed internationally acclaimed author Margaret Atwood after saying he would gladly close down libraries in his ward. (Good take on this at TorontoLife here)
• Apparently, during an all-night budget session on Friday, Mayor Ford said about a children’s author with a book called “Words that Start with B” – “I can think of another word for her”.

Part of this behaviour is symptomatic of the fact that Ford Nation does not seem to be an open club. You can’t join if you are a feminist, gay or if you’re not a tax-payer. You can’t join if you like reading novels that qualified for major international prizes. And sadly, if you’re not in, you’re the enemy. And if we’ve learned anything this week, Rob Ford does not treat his enemies with respect.

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